This course in ‘advanced survey design’ takes students beyond the introductory courses and will discuss the state of the art in both the design and the analysis of survey data. We discuss new ways to analyse text data and sensor data generated by modern surveys. Course participants must be proficient working with statistical software (Stata, SPSS or R). Course materials have been developed in R, but most exercises on days 1-3 is in SPSS or STATA.
This 5-day course in survey design takes students beyond the introductory courses offered in BA and MA programmes, and discusses current issues in one of the most important data collection methods: surveys. Specifically, it focuses on doing surveys in the Internet-era. It will discuss how to collect data in online surveys, using smartphones, and mixing surveys with Big data. It combines short 1-hour lectures with exercises on most of the topics discussed. Course participants must be fully proficient in working with a package for statistical software. Course materials are prepared for working with R, while most of the exercises will also work with STATA and with SPSS.
The course is interesting for social scientists or statisticians at the PhD level or beyond, working on academic research projects. Two courses are offered in the Utrecht Summer school that slightly overlap with this course: S15 - Survey Research: Design, Implementation and Data Processing and S16 -Survey Research: Statistical Analysis and Estimation. The current course is however more advanced and more focused on survey research within the academic (university) setting, as well as focused on current issues related to mobile surveys and Big Data.
We expect students to have quite extensive knowledge of survey research (for example by using survey data extensively) and have knowledge of statistics at the MSc level for social scientists (the general linear model). Note that you have to upload a brief motivation letter (up to 300 words) with your application.
Please note that there is always the possibility that we have to change the course pending COVID19-related developments. The exact details, including a day-to-day program, will be communicated 6 weeks prior to the start of the course.
Course leader
Dr. Peter Lugtig
Target group
If you want to know the current state of the art in survey data and survey data analysis, this is a course for you. This course assumes minimally MSc level knowledge of methods and statistics. In the course R will be used extensively, and at least some knowledge of R is presumed. Course participants may choose to use STATA or R when doing exercises, but especially on days 4 and 5, not all exercises will work with STATA or SPSS. Extensive knowledge of at least software package for statistical analysis is necessary. The course is intended for PhD students, and others at the postgraduate level who wish to know more of survey data and its collection in the 21st century. A maximum of 50 participants will be allowed in this course. IOPS students will get priority.
Course aim
The aim of this course is to provide an overview of theory and practice of modern survey design and analysis, in particular focusing on modern methods of web surveys and the analysis of new types of data (text, sensor data). This course is useful for more experienced students. After the course, participants are ready to apply the learned towards their own surveys, are able to critically assess existing surveys and survey documentation and analyse survey data themselves successfully.
Fee info
EUR 720: Course + course materials (housing not provided)
For further information, please click the "LINK TO ORIGINAL" button below.